St. Paul daily globe., 1887-08-15
THE sIAMEsE AMAZoNs.
A Kings Military Body Guard
Composed Entirely of Women.

London Letter.
Among the other visitors to the eX-
hibition this week has been the Prince
of Siam, brother to the king. He is a
little man, but has an olive complexion
and black eyes, speaks English per-
fectly, and has charming manners. AS
an example of one of the good results
of the American exhibition, during his
visit he made most careful inspection
of the goods in the main building and
spent thousands of dollars on all the
useful things he saw which were up to
the present time unknown in Siam. He
gave an order for 100 typewriterS
to one manufacturer, a large
order for safes to another, ordered
four dozen carpet-SweeperS, steam
engine, and number of other ingenious
things which attracted his attention. so
that these exhibitors have the satiSfac-
ton of knowing that they have opened
a market for themselves in Siam at no
greater expense than going to the Amer
lean exhibition. The fashion having
been set by the prince, large orders for
all these goods he assured them would
follow: it would therefore appear that
the people in this country, which very
few of US stop to realize, is twice as
large in its area as France, and has a
population of about 100000 people,
are all making rapid strides towards
modern civilization.
He gave us some curious information,
however, about the kings amaZonS, the
Royal guard being composed entirely
of women. This battalion consists of
400 women, chosen among the handsom-
est and most robust girls iii the country.
They receive excellent pay, and their
discipline is perfect. They are admit
ted to serve at the age of thirteen, and
are placed in the army of reserve at the
age of twenty-five. From that period
they no longer serve about the kings
person, but are employed to guard the
royal palaces and the crown lands.
On entering the army the amazons
make VOW of chastity, for which there
is no exemption unless any of them
should attract the attention of the king
and be admitted among his legitimate
wives. The kings choice seldom falls
on the most beautiful, but on the most
skilled in military exercise. The cos
tune these women wear is very rich.
Their full dress is composed of white
woolen robe, embroidered with gold.
The cloth is extremely fine and deScendS
as far as the knee; it is covered with
light coat of mail and a gilt
cuiraSs. The arms are free and the head
is covered with gilt casque. When
wearing this dress on state occasions
their only weapon is lance, which
they handle with wonderful deXterity.
With their undress they are armed with
a muSket. The battalion is composed
of four Companies, and each company
of 100 women, commanded by a
aartain of fhnir ShOni6 tho
captain die, the company is drilled dur
ing three days by the king, who ap-
points the most competent to succeed to
the command.
The king of Siam never undertakes
any expedition without being accom-
panied by his female guard, nor does he
ever hunt, or even ride, without an eS-
cOrt of the same guard, who are de-
yotedly attached to his person. Every
individual of the battalion has five ne
crosses attached to her service, and,
having thus no domestic occupation, she
can devote herself exclusively to the
duties of her profession. There is a
parade ground near the city, where one
company are stationed for two days
every week to exercise themselves in
the use of the lance, the pistol
and the rifle. The king attends
once month at these exercises,
accompanied by his brother. who shares
in some degree the sovereign power,
and distributes prizes to those most de-
serving. When the death of one of the
parties enSues, the deceased receives
magnificent funeral, and the high priest
prOnounces panegyric declaring that
the deceased by her yalOr has merited
eternal rest in the abode of the blessed.
The survivor receives the congratula-
tions of her companions; but as a meas
ure of discipline, she is sentenced to pass
two montes away from her company in
fasting and praying. The military or
ganizatiOn of this battalion is so per-
feet that the entire army endeavors to
initiate it.